Caretaker coach Brett Kimmorley, who is still looking for his first win since his appointment, has named his 22-man squad for the round 17 match against Parramatta Eels at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Kimmorley, who has lost all three games he has been in charge of the NRL side, has announced that another Wests Tigers pathways player will make his NRL debut.
Local junior Justin Matamua has been named on the bench and is in line to become the club’s third player inside a week to play his first NRL game.
Fonua Pole and Austin Dias made their first NRL appearance last weekend, joining fellow 2022 debutants, Junior Tupou and Oliver Gildart.
Matamua is a Western Suburbs junior and captain of the Magpies SG Ball Cup team.
The 19-year-old forward helped NSW to victory over Queensland in the Under 19 State of Origin match at Leichhardt Oval a fortnight ago.
In other team news, Adam Doueihi, pictured above, will start in the centres replacing James Roberts, while James Tamou (calf) will return to the side after missing Sunday’s 22-2 defeat to the Warriors.
Kimmorley would be entitled to be disappointed with the result, given a reasonable performance from his team in a sold out Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland last Sunday.
Wests Tigers were in the game right up until the final whistle, despite getting the rough end of most 50-50 calls by the referee – especially in the first 40 minutes.
There’s no doubt a win is not too far away, and it could be against the Eels, one of the three teams Wests Tigers have beaten this season.
Round 17: Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Starford To’a
4. Adam Doueihi
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Luke Brooks
7. Jackson Hastings
8. James Tamou (c)
9. Fa’amanu Brown
10. Zane Musgrove
11. Luke Garner
12. Kelma Tuilagi
13. Joe Ofahengaue
INTERCHANGE
14. Stefano Utoikamanu
15. Justin Matamua
16. Jacob Liddle
17. Fonua Pole
EXTENDED BENCH
18. Austin Dias
19. Alex Seyfarth
20. Junior Tupou
21. Asu Kepaoa
22. Jock Madden
